Norwegian wunderkind Magnus Carlsen confirmed his status as a super-elite grandmaster at the age of 16 in winning the prestigious Biel tournament in Switzerland. Carlsen may have been eliminated from the current World Championship cycle, but the way he won here shows he is sure to be a contender in the next. Carlsen was the early leader until consecutive losses in rounds 7 and 8 allowed GM Alexander Onischuk of the USA and Azerbaijani GM Teimour Radjabov to overtake him. However, Carlsen was able to rally in the final round with a resounding victory over Radjabov to catch Onischuk on 5½/9, ahead of Radjabov, the local entry Yannick Petellier, Hungarian Judit Polgar and Russian Alexander Grischuk tied for third on 5 points. Carlsen then proceeded to win the playoff for first against Onischuk.
Today's game is that final round win over Radjabov by Carlsen playing with the white pieces.
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nge2 Nbd7 5. g3 c6 6. Bg2 b5 7. a3 Be7 8. O-O O-O
The Pirc Defence often leads to vigorous pawn advances by both players on opposite sides of the board – White on the kingside and Black on the queenside. Although here Black has avoided a kingside fianchetto providing a target on g6 and White has castled kingside, this is still the best plan for both sides. 9. h3 a5 10. g4 Ba6 11. Ng3 b4 12. Nce2 bxa3
So as to weaken White's pawns or play 13 ... d5 with a hit on the rook, but at the same time activating the white piece. The immediate 12 ... d5 opening up the centre to counteract White's kingside advance has been played with success. 13. Rxa3! d5 14. Re3 dxe4 15. Re1! Qc7 16. Nf5 Bd8?
White has not rushed to recoup his pawn, instead concentrating force along the e-file knowing that e4 must fall. Black in turn makes a passive move handing Carlsen the initiative when 16 ... Bb4 17 c3 exd4 18 Nexd4 Bc5 would have kept his pieces active. 17. g5 Nd5 18. Rxe4 f6 19. Neg3 g6
The plan to evict the knight does not work out. 20. Nh6+ Kg7 21. dxe5 fxg5 22. e6! ---
A stunning breakthrough that seals the win. White leaves the stranded knight to be taken using the e-pawn as a battering ram to force entry into the heart of the Black position. 22. --- Kxh6 23. e7! Qb6
If instead 23 ... Nxe7 24 Rxe7 Bxe7 25 Rxe7 Rae8, then 26 Bxg5+! Kxg5 27 Qg4+ Kf6 28 Rxd7 Qb8 29 h4! and the threat of 30 Qg5+ and 31 Bh3+ can only be met by heavy material losses. Or if 23 ... Re8 24 exd8=Q Rexd8 25 Qd4 N7f6 then again 26 Bxg5+! puts the black king in a noose. 24. exf8=Q+ Nxf8 25. c4 ---
Making way for the queen's entry. The end is near. 25. --- Nf4 26. Qd6 Kg7 27. Bxf4 gxf4 28. Re7+! Resigns
Mate will occur after 28 ... Bxe7 29 Rxe7+ Kg8 30 Qf6 etc.
Carlsen shows mettle
Problem: Black to play and mate in three.
Norwegian wunderkind Magnus Carlsen confirmed his status as a super-elite grandmaster at the age of 16 in winning the prestigious Biel tournament in Switzerland. Carlsen may have been eliminated from the current World Championship cycle, but the way he won here shows he is sure to be a contender in the next. Carlsen was the early leader until consecutive losses in rounds 7 and 8 allowed GM Alexander Onischuk of the USA and Azerbaijani GM Teimour Radjabov to overtake him. However, Carlsen was able to rally in the final round with a resounding victory over Radjabov to catch Onischuk on 5½/9, ahead of Radjabov, the local entry Yannick Petellier, Hungarian Judit Polgar and Russian Alexander Grischuk tied for third on 5 points. Carlsen then proceeded to win the playoff for first against Onischuk.
Today's game is that final round win over Radjabov by Carlsen playing with the white pieces.
1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 e5
4. Nge2 Nbd7
5. g3 c6
6. Bg2 b5
7. a3 Be7
8. O-O O-O
The Pirc Defence often leads to vigorous pawn advances by both players on opposite sides of the board – White on the kingside and Black on the queenside. Although here Black has avoided a kingside fianchetto providing a target on g6 and White has castled kingside, this is still the best plan for both sides.
9. h3 a5
10. g4 Ba6
11. Ng3 b4
12. Nce2 bxa3
So as to weaken White's pawns or play 13 ... d5 with a hit on the rook, but at the same time activating the white piece. The immediate 12 ... d5 opening up the centre to counteract White's kingside advance has been played with success.
13. Rxa3! d5
14. Re3 dxe4
15. Re1! Qc7
16. Nf5 Bd8?
White has not rushed to recoup his pawn, instead concentrating force along the e-file knowing that e4 must fall. Black in turn makes a passive move handing Carlsen the initiative when 16 ... Bb4 17 c3 exd4 18 Nexd4 Bc5 would have kept his pieces active.
17. g5 Nd5
18. Rxe4 f6
19. Neg3 g6
The plan to evict the knight does not work out.
20. Nh6+ Kg7
21. dxe5 fxg5
22. e6! ---
A stunning breakthrough that seals the win. White leaves the stranded knight to be taken using the e-pawn as a battering ram to force entry into the heart of the Black position.
22. --- Kxh6
23. e7! Qb6
If instead 23 ... Nxe7 24 Rxe7 Bxe7 25 Rxe7 Rae8, then 26 Bxg5+! Kxg5 27 Qg4+ Kf6 28 Rxd7 Qb8 29 h4! and the threat of 30 Qg5+ and 31 Bh3+ can only be met by heavy material losses. Or if 23 ... Re8 24 exd8=Q Rexd8 25 Qd4 N7f6 then again 26 Bxg5+! puts the black king in a noose.
24. exf8=Q+ Nxf8
25. c4 ---
Making way for the queen's entry. The end is near.
25. --- Nf4
26. Qd6 Kg7
27. Bxf4 gxf4
28. Re7+! Resigns
Mate will occur after 28 ... Bxe7 29 Rxe7+ Kg8 30 Qf6 etc.
1-0
Solution: 1 ... Qh1+! 2 Rxh1 (2 Kf2 g3+ 3 Kxg3 Qf3#) Rxh1+ 3 Kf2 Bh4#.